Method and system for displaying context sensitive child windows independently of their parent window

Abstract

A method of and system for generating a user-display interface which displays and manages multiple child windows anywhere on a display screen. An application is executed to create a server and to create a context manager, the context manager for monitoring current context. The application also creates and initializes a frame window, the frame window including at least an application menu and being commanded by the server so that a header block of the frame window may be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on a display screen. The frame window is executed to create zero or more child nodes in response to requests to open child nodes from the application, each of the child nodes having a context type associated therewith and zero or more of the child nodes being context sensitive, the context type being monitored by the context manager, each of the child nodes being commanded by the frame to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on the display screen. Items of the application menu may be altered as a function of the context type currently being monitored by the context manager.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of generating a user-display interface in a windows operating system, said method comprising the steps of: executing an application to create a server, said server for dispatching user commands to the operating system;   executing the application to create a context manager and to create and initialize a frame window, said context manager for monitoring current context, said frame window including at least a menu listing at least one child node managed by the application, and said frame window being commanded by the application to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible header block on a display screen; and   executing the frame window to create at least one child node managed by the application in response to requests to open child nodes from said menu, each of said child nodes having a context type associated therewith, said context type being monitored by said context manager in accordance with which of said child nodes is active, each of said child nodes being commanded by said frame window to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on said display screen at a position independent of that of said frame window,   wherein items of said menu are altered as a function of the context type currently being monitored by said context manager.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child window. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child dialog. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of invoking a modal task processor, said modal task processor disabling the frame window and any child nodes until completion of a desired task. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the modal task processor is invoked automatically and wherein the desired task involves execution of a modal child dialog. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the modal task processor is invoked manually and ended manually. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 4, wherein when the modal task processor is invoked, other modal tasks may be executed and ended. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of creating a cooperative application manager when said modal task processor is invoked to synchronize execution between cooperative applications. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said child nodes is context aware. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said step of creating said context manager comprises the steps of creating a context tracer and a context adviser, said context tracer monitoring the context type of said child nodes that are context aware and said context adviser informing each of said context sensitive child nodes of the current context type monitored by said context tracer. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said server is not displayed on said display screen. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of initializing an accelerator table including accelerators recognizable by said frame window so as permit selection of a child node from said menu through use of an accelerator. 
     
     
       13. A method of generating a user-display interface in a windows operating system, said method comprising the steps of: executing an application to create a server, said server for dispatching user commands to the operating system;   executing the application to create and initialize a frame window, said frame window including at least a menu listing at least one child node managed by the application, and said frame window being commanded by the application to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible header block on a display screen; and   executing the frame window to create at least one child node managed by the application in response to requests to open child nodes from said menu, each of said child nodes being commanded by said frame window to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on said display screen at a position independent of that of said frame window,   whereby said child nodes may be displayed anywhere on said display screen.   
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 13, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child window. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 13, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child dialog having a context type associated therewith. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of invoking a modal task processor, said modal task processor disabling the frame window and any child nodes until completion of a desired task. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the modal task processor is invoked automatically and wherein the desired task involves execution of a modal child dialog. 
     
     
       18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the modal task processor is invoked manually and ended manually. 
     
     
       19. A method according to claim 16, wherein when the modal task processor is invoked, other modal tasks may be executed and ended. 
     
     
       20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of creating a cooperative application manager when said modal task processor is invoked to synchronize execution between cooperative applications. 
     
     
       21. A method according to claim 13, wherein said server is not displayed on said display screen. 
     
     
       22. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of initializing an accelerator table including accelerators recognizable by said frame window so as to permit selection of a child node from said menu through use of an accelerator. 
     
     
       23. A method of developing a user-display interface in a windows operating system, said method comprising the steps of: adapting an application;   adapting a server from said application, said server for dispatching user commands to the operating systems;   adapting a frame window, said frame window including objects for selectively displaying at least a menu listing child nodes managed by the application as a visible header block on a display screen by the operating system; and   adapting one or more child nodes managed by the application in response to requests to open child nodes from said menu, each of said child nodes including objects commanded by said frame window to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on said display screen at a position independent of that of said frame window.   
     
     
       24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said step of adapting said server further comprises the step of adapting a context manager for monitoring current context, said context manager including objects for altering items of said menu as a function of a context type of a child node that is active. 
     
     
       25. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of initializing an accelerator table including objects for recognizing accelerators input by the user to select a child node from said menu. 
     
     
       26. A method according to claim 23, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child window object. 
     
     
       27. A method according to claim 23, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child dialog object having a context type associated therewith. 
     
     
       28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of invoking a modal task processor, said modal task processor including objects for disabling the frame window and any child nodes until completion of a desired task. 
     
     
       29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the modal task processor is invoked automatically and wherein the desired task involves execution of a modal child dialog. 
     
     
       30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the modal task processor is invoked manually and ended manually. 
     
     
       31. A method according to claim 28, wherein when the modal task processor is invoked, other modal tasks may be executed and ended. 
     
     
       32. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of creating a cooperative application manager when said modal task processor is invoked to synchronize execution between cooperative applications. 
     
     
       33. A system for generating a user-display interface in a windows operating system comprising: a server created by execution of an application, said server for dispatching user commands to the operating system;   a context manager created by execution of the application, said context manager for monitoring current context;   a frame window, created and initialized by the application and including at least a menu listing child nodes managed by the application, and said frame window being commanded by the application to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible header block on a display screen; and   at least one child node managed by the application and created by executing the frame window in response to requests to open child nodes from said application, each of said child nodes having a context type associated therewith, said context being monitored by said context manager in accordance with which of said child nodes is active, each of said child nodes being commanded by said frame window to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on said display screen at a position independent of that of said frame window,   wherein items of said menu are altered as a function of the context currently being monitored by said context manager.   
     
     
       34. A system according to claim 33, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child window. 
     
     
       35. A system according to claim 33, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child dialog. 
     
     
       36. A system according to claim 35, further comprising a modal task processor, said modal task processor disabling the frame window and any child nodes until completion of a desired task. 
     
     
       37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the modal task processor is invoked automatically and wherein the desired task involves execution of a modal child dialog. 
     
     
       38. A system according to claim 36, wherein the modal task processor is invoked manually and ended manually. 
     
     
       39. A system according to claim 36, wherein when the modal task processor is invoked, other modal tasks may be executed and ended. 
     
     
       40. A system according to claim 36, further comprising a cooperative application manager, created when said modal task processor is invoked, to synchronize execution between cooperative applications. 
     
     
       41. A system according to claim 33, wherein at least one of said child nodes is context aware. 
     
     
       42. A system according to claim 33, wherein said context manager comprises a context tracer and a context adviser, said context tracer monitoring the context types of said child nodes that are context aware and said context adviser informing each of said context sensitive child nodes of the current context monitored by said context tracer. 
     
     
       43. A system according to claim 33, wherein said server is not displayed on said display screen. 
     
     
       44. A system according to claim 33, further comprising an accelerator table including accelerators recognizable by said frame window so as to permit selection of a child node from said menu through use of an accelerator. 
     
     
       45. A system of generating a user-display interface in a windows operating system, said system comprising: a server created by execution of an application, said server for dispatching user commands to the operating system;   a frame window, created and initialized by said application and including at least a menu listing child nodes managed by the application, and said frame window being commanded by the application to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible header block on a display screen; and   at least one child node managed by the application and created in response to requests to open child nodes from said application, each of said child nodes being commanded by said frame window to be selectively displayed by the operating system as a visible window on said display screen at a position independent of that of said frame window,   whereby said child nodes may be displayed anywhere on said display screen.   
     
     
       46. A system according to claim 45, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child window. 
     
     
       47. A system according to claim 45, wherein one of said child nodes comprises a child dialog having a context type associated therewith. 
     
     
       48. A system according to claim 47, further comprising the step of invoking a modal task processor, said modal task processor disabling the frame window and any child nodes until completion of a desired task. 
     
     
       49. A system according to claim 48, wherein the modal task processor is invoked automatically and wherein the desired task involves execution of a modal child dialog. 
     
     
       50. A system according to claim 48, wherein the modal task processor is invoked manually and ended manually. 
     
     
       51. A system according to claim 48, wherein when the modal task processor is invoked, other modal tasks may be executed and ended. 
     
     
       52. A system according to claim 48, further comprising the step of creating a cooperative application manager when said modal task processor is invoked to synchronize execution between cooperative applications. 
     
     
       53. A system according to claim 45, wherein said server is not displayed on said display screen. 
     
     
       54. A system according to claim 45, further comprising the step of initializing an accelerator table including accelerators recognizable by said frame window so as to permit selection of a child node from said menu through use of an accelerator.